Flicking through videos, the second I hit the enormous logo – presented above – glinting, I knew I had to Cyanide’s Pro Cycling Manager 2010. It amazes me on several levels. Firstly, it solves the management-games-don’t-look good problem, by i) making the race engine really nifty and ii) never showing anything in the trailer which isn’t the aforementioned nifty panoramas of gently swaying male buttocks. Secondly, it brings to mind the idea of a spin-off – Amateur Cycling Manager, which is based around a very demanding parent shouting at local children who are wrestling with stabilisers. Joking aside, the foot-to-pedal game does feature this really neat course editing tool, which is impressive even to my unprofessional eyes. No demo yet, but it’s available to buy from Cyanide’s shop. Self-propelled bicycular fellas follow…

My friend watches cycling. He says most of the sport is about haggling between the teams about who will let who win each stage, rather than, you know, cycling. It is about diplomacy, back-room dealing and outright bribery. So a lot like Neptune’s Pride or Solium Infernum, if it was done right. And taking drugs.

There is a good deal of haggling in cycling. You can see many of them at it during the race, even. Three or four guys break away from the pack and the two or three weaker guys are often seen teaming up to out pace the stronger guy.That is part of what makes the sport so fascinating. But then you have genuine Eastender’s style drama like the Armstrong / Contador bitch-fest that was going on last year. It would have all been fine and dandy if they weren’t on the same damn team. But at the end of the day you can’t deny the pure steamrolling power of Cavendish crossing the finishing line.

Nice summary P00py. One of the things that always made cycling stand out for me is the fact that while they ride in teams and greatly benefit/suffer from team strength, in the end it’s only one person who wins unlike in other team sports.

To add my two wents: cycling may not be anywhere near the profile of football and basketball in terms of international recognition, but it’s a major sport in most of mainland Europe (France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany etc) and is growin in international stature. I wouldn’t exactly compare it to badminton. :) They must make plenty of sales because this is like the 10th edition or so. And as with many sports, it can be incredibly exciting once you know how it works. :-)

It’s been two years since I last played a Pro Cycling Manager, from the site it sounds like the engine has received a nice overhaul, which it badly needs considering how poor the racing looked when I played the 08 version :(